The tighknit communities of Penola and Coonawarra are celebrating following the announcement of Penola as the 2024 South Australian Agricultural Town of the Year in recognition of its dedication to agriculture, agricultural education and community.
Taking out the coveted title ahead of the other two finalists – Burra and Kimba. Penola was selected by a panel of independent judges, which visited each of the towns as part of the competition.
Penola was commended for its wide variety of agricultural pursuits ranging from dairy, beef and lamb to grains, potatoes, forestry, and world class wine. The judges also noted the town’s commitment to agricultural education with impressive uptake of the local agricultural program as well as George the Farmer, who is sharing Australian agriculture with the world.
The judges praised Penola’s deep understanding of local conditions and its ability to leverage them, such as pivoting from hemp seed production to hemp fibre production. The strong collaboration between community, local businesses and local government was also commended along with the town’s joyful community spirit and pride.
“Penola punches well above its weight in terms of agricultural output. We produce a diverse amount of produce from grains, prime lamb, delicious beef, pines, hemp, dairy, and, of course, grapes. We’re lucky to generally have high rainfall, access to underground water, and really fertile soils,” said Simone Kain, co-founder of George the Farmer and a proud Penola resident.
Kain, whose educational program and picture book series George the Farmer has educated millions of children worldwide on agriculture, added, “We’re a creative community. From artists to authors to artisan winemakers right through to our creative farmers who produce world-class products. George the Farmer has helped educate over 600,000 children in Australian classrooms alone about the importance of farming and where our food and fibre comes from. I love that George originates from a highly productive little town like Penola.”
Penola’s agricultural success is enhanced by its commitment to education. Judges noted the impressive uptake of local agricultural programs, including the curriculum at the Penola High School and George the Farmer, which has brought Australian agriculture to the world stage. The town’s flexibility in adapting to new agricultural opportunities—like transitioning from hemp seed to hemp fibre production—highlights its innovative approach.
Wattle Range Council Mayor Des Noll commended the town’s dedication to both community and innovation. “Penola embraces the whole spectrum of agriculture with diverse farming communities and innovative leaders in primary industries, agribusinesses, and agricultural education”
“Penola’s approach to agriculture is world-class and the community welcomes new ventures and supports local businesses to help them thrive.”
The whole community has been behind Penola’s success, and everyone should be incredibly proud of this achievement” said Mayor Noll.
As the sixth town to receive the Ag Town of the Year Award since its inception, Penola joins past winners in demonstrating the vital role agriculture plays in South Australia’s regional economy, generating $18.5 billion in 2022-23 and supporting vibrant communities across the state.
With record nominations and public votes this year, the Agricultural Town of the Year Award continues to shine a spotlight on the heart and resilience of South Australia’s rural communities, where agriculture forms the backbone of both economy and way of life.